Blocking Elements for Ball Trap Screen

ABSTRACT

A ball trap screen for use with “T” type ball traps having a ball trap extension in which the ball trap screen includes a cone shaped inlet; an elbow, at least a portion of which includes a substantially planer solid area; a first screen section extending between the cone shaped inlet and the elbow; and a second screen section extending from the elbow into the ball trap extension; wherein at least a portion of the cone shaped inlet includes a solid cone blocking element, the first screen section includes a solid first screen blocking element and the second screen section includes a solid second screen blocking element. Also described are a ball trap for collecting cleaning balls, blocking elements for a ball trap screen and a method of enhancing the movement of the cleaning ball through the ball trap of a closed fluid flow system by blocking portions of a ball trap screen deployed within a ball trap housing so as to modify the fluid flow through the ball trap.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ball traps used in heat exchanger cleaning system and, in particular, it concerns blocking elements for ball trap screens that enhances the movement of the cleaning ball through the ball trap.

It is known collect the cleaning balls use to clean closed fluid flow systems such as heat exchangers in a ball trap and then drawn from the ball trap into a ball collection chamber. Ball traps may be configured at to extend from the main flow pipe at substantially any angle.

Currently it is increasingly popular to utilize a ball trap that extends from the main fluid flow pipe at a 90° angle, such a ball trap is commonly referred to as a “T” type ball trap (10 in the drawings).

Such ball traps are generally configured with a screen or sieve element 100 that extends from the inlet opening 12 of the “T” into the ball trap itself.

The present inventors have found that the “T” type balls traps currently in use are ineffectual at collecting all of the cleaning balls in the system. That is to say, the fluid flow patterns in the “T” type bell traps currently in use cause some of the cleaning balls to congregate in regions of the screen from which they are not drawn out of the ball trap into the ball collection chamber.

There is therefore a need for blocking elements for ball trap screens that enhances the movement of the cleaning balls through the ball trap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is blocking elements for ball trap screens that enhances the movement of the cleaning ball through the ball trap.

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, a ball trap screen for use with “T” type ball traps having a ball trap extension, the ball trap screen comprising: (a) a cone shaped inlet; (b) an elbow, at least a portion of which includes a substantially planer solid area; (c) a first screen section extending between the cone shaped inlet and the elbow; and (d) a second screen section extending from the elbow into the ball trap extension; wherein at least a portion of the cone shaped inlet includes a solid cone blocking element, the first screen section includes a solid first screen blocking element and the second screen section includes a solid second screen blocking element.

According to the teachings of the present invention the elbow is configured as a 90° elbow.

According to the teachings of the present invention the first screen blocking element and the second screen blocking elements are deployed so as to substantially circumscribe the planer solid area of the elbow.

According to the teachings of the present invention the solid cone blocking element, the first screen blocking element and the second screen blocking element are integrally formed with the ball trap screen.

According to the teachings of the present invention the solid cone blocking element, the first screen blocking element and the second screen blocking element are individually formed and deployed on the ball trap screen.

There is also provided according to the teaching of the present invention a ball trap for collecting cleaning balls, the ball trap comprising: (a) a ball trap housing with a water inlet opening, a water outlet and a ball trap extension (b) the ball trap screen having at least a: (i) a cone shaped inlet; (ii) an elbow, at least a portion of which includes a substantially planer solid area; (iii) a first screen section extending between the cone shaped inlet and the elbow; and (iv) a second screen section extending from the elbow into the ball trap extension; wherein at least a portion of the cone shaped inlet includes a solid cone blocking element, the first screen section includes a solid first screen blocking element and the second screen section includes a solid second screen blocking element.

There is also provided according to the teaching of the present invention blocking elements for a ball trap screen, the blocking elements comprising: (a) a solid cone blocking element configured for deployment on a cone shaped inlet of the ball trap screen, (b) a solid first screen blocking element configured for deployment on a first screen section of the ball trap screen; and (c) a solid second screen blocking element configured for deployment on a second screen section of the ball trap screen.

According to the teachings of the present invention the first screen blocking element and the second screen blocking element are configured for deployed so as to substantially circumscribe a planer solid area of an elbow of the ball trap screen.

There is also provided according to the teaching of the present invention a method of enhancing the movement of the cleaning ball through the ball trap of a closed fluid flow system by blocking portions of a ball trap screen deployed within a ball trap housing so as to modify the fluid flow through the ball trap, the method comprising: (a) deploying a solid cone blocking element on a cone shaped inlet of the ball trap screen; (b) deploying a solid first screen blocking element on a first screen section of the ball trap screen; and (c) deploying a solid second screen blocking element on a second screen section of the ball trap screen (d) initiate a flow of fluid in the closed fluid flow system.

According to the teachings of the present invention the deploying the solid first screen blocking element and the deploying the solid second screen blocking element is implemented such that the first screen blocking element and the second screen blocking element are deployed so as to substantially circumscribe a planer solid area of an elbow of the ball trap screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a transparent isometric view of a “T” type ball trap shown with a ball trap screen, constructed and operational according to the teaching of the present invention, deployed inside the ball trap housing;

FIG. 2 is a transparent isometric top side view of the ball trap screen of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transparent side view of the ball trap screen of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transparent isometric bottom side view of the ball trap screen of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a detail a portion of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 5B is a detail of the blocking elements of FIG. 5A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is blocking elements for ball trap screens that enhance the movement of the cleaning ball through the ball trap in a closed fluid flow system.

The principles and operation of blocking elements for ball trap screens according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a transparent view of a “T” type ball trap 2 having a ball trap housing 10 with a water inlet opening 12, a water outlet 13 and a ball trap extension 10 e. Also shown is a ball trap screen 10′ deployed inside the ball trap housing 10. It is understood that in such ball traps, the main fluid flow path is between water inlet opening 12, a water outlet 13 and that the cleaning balls are directed into the ball trap extension by means of a minor fluid flow path.

As mentioned above, the present inventors sought a solution to the problem of fluid flow patterns in the “T” type ball traps currently in use causing some of the cleaning balls to congregate in regions of the ball trap screen such that the cleaning balls are not drawn out of the ball trap into the ball collection chamber. The present invention is the solution to that problem.

The ball trap screen 10′ is configured with a cone shaped inlet 12′ that tapers inward and connects to a first screen section 10′a of the ball trap screen 10′. The first screen section 10′a extends from the inlet to an elbow with a second screen section 10′b of the ball trap screen extending from the elbow 14 into the ball trap extension 10 e that serves to connect the first 10′a and second 10′b screen sections. The ball trap screen 10′ illustrated here is configured with a 90° elbow 14.

The present inventors have found that by deploying solid blocking elements on at least a portion of the cone shaped inlet 12′ and on the 90° elbow 14 as illustrated in the drawings, the fluid flow patterns within the ball trap are changed sufficiently enough that the cleaning balls are directed to regions of the ball trap screen such that the cleaning balls are drawn out of the ball trap into the ball collection chamber.

While the drawings herein are intended as illustrations of a preferred embodiment of the ball trap screen blocking elements of the present invention, it will be readily understood that the size, shape and exact placement of the blocking elements on the ball trap screen may be varied within the scope of the present invention.

That said, the present inventors have found that the preferred placement of the cone blocking element 50 is on the region opposite the 90° extension 16. Preferably, but not necessarily, the cone blocking element 50 is configured to cover thirty percent of the circumference of the cone shaped inlet.

As illustrated herein at least a portion of the 90° elbow 14 includes a substantially planer solid area 14 a configured at substantially 45° to both the first 10′a and second 10′b screen sections. It will be readily understood that substantially planer solid area 14 a also lies at substantially 45° to the fluid flow path between water inlet opening 12 and water outlet 13 of the ball trap housing 10. The present inventors have found that extending the solid area surrounding area 14 a further enhances the fluid flow patterns within the ball trap so as to better direct the cleaning balls to regions of the ball trap screen such that the cleaning balls are drawn out of the ball trap into the ball collection chamber. To that end, blocking elements 52 and 54 are deployed the first 10′a and second 10′b screen sections respectively so as to substantially circumscribe solid area 14 a.

It should be noted that an innovation of the present invention is a method of enhancing the movement of the cleaning ball through the ball trap of in a closed fluid flow system, once fluid flow is initiated, by blocking portions of the ball trap screen so as to modify the fluid flow through the ball trap.

A further innovation of the present invention is the deployment of the blocking elements on the ball trap screen. It should be noted that each of the blocking elements are individually formed and such deployment may be done at the time of fabrication of the ball trap screen. Alternatively, the blocking elements may be configured integrally with the screen. That is, the screen itself may be fabricated with solid areas such that upon fabrication of the ball trap screen element, the location of the solid portions of the screen material correspond to the preferred locations of blocking elements 50, 52 and 54.

It will be appreciated that blocking elements by be fabricated independently for installation as aftermarket components for use in retro-fitting existing ball traps used in closed fluid flow systems.

It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples and that many other embodiments are possible within the spirit and the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A ball trap screen for use with “T” type ball traps having a ball trap extension, the ball trap screen comprising: (a) a cone shaped inlet; (b) an elbow, at least a portion of which includes a substantially planer solid area; (c) a first screen section extending between said cone shaped inlet and said elbow; and (d) a second screen section extending from said elbow into the ball trap extension; wherein at least a portion of said cone shaped inlet includes a solid cone blocking element, said first screen section includes a solid first screen blocking element and said second screen section includes a solid second screen blocking element.
 2. The ball trap screen of claim 1, wherein said elbow is configured as a 90° elbow.
 3. The ball trap screen of claim 1, wherein said first screen blocking element and said second screen blocking elements are deployed so as to substantially circumscribe said planer solid area of said elbow.
 4. The ball trap screen of claim 1, wherein said solid cone blocking element, said first screen blocking element and said second screen blocking element are integrally formed with the ball trap screen.
 5. The ball trap screen of claim 1, wherein said solid cone blocking element, said first screen blocking element and said second screen blocking element are individually formed and deployed on the ball trap screen.
 6. A ball trap for collecting cleaning balls, the ball trap comprising: (a) a ball trap housing with a water inlet opening, a water outlet and a ball trap extension (b) the ball trap screen having at least a: (i) a cone shaped inlet; (ii) an elbow, at least a portion of which includes a substantially planer solid area; (iii) a first screen section extending between said cone shaped inlet and said elbow; and (iv) a second screen section extending from said elbow into the ball trap extension; wherein at least a portion of said cone shaped inlet includes a solid cone blocking element, said first screen section includes a solid first screen blocking element and said second screen section includes a solid second screen blocking element.
 7. Blocking elements for a ball trap screen, the blocking elements comprising: (a) a solid cone blocking element configured for deployment on a cone shaped inlet of the ball trap screen, (b) a solid first screen blocking element configured for deployment on a first screen section of the ball trap screen; and (c) a solid second screen blocking element configured for deployment on a second screen section of the ball trap screen.
 8. The blocking elements of claim 7, wherein said first screen blocking element and said second screen blocking element are configured for deployed so as to substantially circumscribe a planer solid area of an elbow of the ball trap screen.
 9. A method of enhancing the movement of the cleaning ball through the ball trap of a closed fluid flow system by blocking portions of a ball trap screen deployed within a ball trap housing so as to modify the fluid flow through the ball trap, the method comprising: (a) deploying a solid cone blocking element on a cone shaped inlet of the ball trap screen; (b) deploying a solid first screen blocking element on a first screen section of the ball trap screen; and (c) deploying a solid second screen blocking element on a second screen section of the ball trap screen (d) initiate a flow of fluid in the closed fluid flow system.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said deploying said solid first screen blocking element and said deploying said solid second screen blocking element is implemented such that said first screen blocking element and said second screen blocking element are deployed so as to substantially circumscribe a planer solid area of an elbow of the ball trap screen. 